Chapter 08- WHAT WILL THE FUTURE HOLD FOR US?

Note: Please note that this chapter talks about George Thornton's death (not in explicit detail, but still)

Dixon was returning to Crampton after buying groceries. Ever since Mary had started to assist her in running the household, Dixon started to feel much better. She felt carefree and more focused. Although she was quite sceptical of Higgins' daughter, she realized that the girl was ten times better than Miss Margaret herself! She never argued back, neither questioned everything she was told; something which Margaret was known for, undoubtedly. She was quick to grasp the details, learned to cook quite a few dishes, and overall proved to be a good helpmate.

Miss Margaret and Mary came back a little late from the drapers' shop even after she had told them to be home on time. When the two women had returned, she noticed that Margaret was quite out of sorts. But this was becoming common each and every day. At first, she thought that the daughter was still going through her poor mother's death. But now, she observed that the young woman was restless and fidgety. Something was bothering her. Sadly, she had none to confide in, the master was himself handling his grief and was extremely sensitive. As for friends, she seldom had any.

She gave her the letter to Mrs. Thornton and asked to make sure it was delivered. Dixon recollected that a month ago, both women had got into a heated argument about something, though she didn't know the details. And now, Miss Margaret was about to visit the dragon in her den, the coming saturday. She didn't know what to expect from the visit, but her heart told her that it might do Miss Margaret good. Maybe the woman wants to keep up to her promise given to her mistress before death.

While she was busy in her thoughts, she was seen by Mr. Bell. He was invited for dinner at Crampton. His monotony in his empty stark hotel room pushed him to be closer to his friend and goddaughter. Now that he saw Dixon trailing towards home, he joined her on the street.

Dixon and Mr. Bell always shared a friendly chord. Both were exactly similar in a dozen ways. Moreover, Mr. Bell was unlike his friend Richard, and since Dixon always took an edge with her master for being sensitive and ignorant, she preferred Mr. Bell's sarcastic and energetic company. They started to walk home together.

"Dixon, came to buy groceries to prepare dinner for me and the Hales, eh?"

"Yes, of course. Had to buy quite a few things and it's a good day to be out!"

"Yes, I saw you walking deep in thought. Is something the matter?"

"Why, no, I mean, I was thinking of Miss Margaret".

"Margaret? Is she fine? I had seen her yesterday, and she seemed well although reserved than usual".

"Ay, yes, that's what I am worried about. She hardly speaks much and keeps to herself. Goes to meet that union leader and the Boucher childer as usual, talks with Mary, master, you, and all, but something nagging her. Thought it might be her poor mama's death. Yet, something's different about the miss".

Mr. Bell understood Dixon's worry. He was himself of the same opinion. Margaret was carrying her burdens alone. Ever since she had come to Milton, all that she faced was a sort of culture shock by the ways of the Northerners, her mother's death, lack of company, brother's adventurous escape, and whatnot! And most importantly, her feelings and opinions on Thornton. Despite all hurdles, Margaret was remaining stronger than ever.

"I heard from Hale that Fred had come to visit during Maria's death. Both father and daughter might have felt happy seeing the man after so long!"

"Master Frederick! Yes, we all were happy to meet him after all these years. It was quite risky yet Miss Margaret was firm to fulfill her mother's last wish. All was going good, but we were just spared by god's miracle from getting caught, you see!"

Mr. Bell was stunned to hear Dixon speaking so. Hale didn't say that there was trouble, he was confidently speaking of his son's time in Milton with such ease and happiness.

"What? Was there any trouble? Hale didn't tell me so!"

"He didn't tell you because he isn't aware of all this! Quite ignorant and self-centred that he is! But yes, some three days before the poor mistress' death, I was met by a man named Leonards while I had gone out for groceries. He is such a mischief-maker and drinker. Used to live in Helstone before he quit the place to get into the sea or something."

"What does that man have to do with Fred?"

"He knows of Master Frederick of course! Asked me why we were here, who all were there and such things. I managed to shoo him off. But I did tell Miss Margaret and her brother to be safe. That's why the miss urged her brother to go right that night itself immediately after the mistress passed away".

Mr. Bell sighed in relief. Again, Margaret proved to be prudent and sensible, as she always was. But Dixon was not yet finished speaking.

"But that sick drunkard saw both the miss and master at the station that night! He had drabbled with the master, I think. But Miss Margaret somehow sent her brother off safely. Two days later, got to know that Leonards had died near the railway station! Will you believe me if I say that an inspector had come to the house to speak to Miss Margaret? I heard him questioning her whereabouts that night. Miss couldn't help risking her brother's life so had to lie. But the inspector was quite cautious. Said he will come the next day if he has more questions to ask!"

Mr. Bell was hardly able to suppress his shock and bewilderment. So much had happened that stirred up his brain.

"I hope he didn't come? He must have believed Margaret, right?"

"Nay, he came. But he simply told that he will not inquire more and drop her out of this thing altogether. All thanks to that tradesman, master's pupil!"

"What? You mean Thornton for sure?"

"Yes, the magistrate that he is! He seems to have helped Miss Margaret escape from the inspector. He knows of Master Frederick, I hope. The master would have surely told him or at least Miss Margaret would have. Otherwise, he wouldn't have helped so easily, eh?"

What Mr. Bell heard from Dixon almost seemed to piece everything together in place. Hale had mentioned that Margaret stopped him from disclosing about Fred to Thornton, since that would put him in a compromising situation as he was a magistrate. She was right, he did take pride in his position as he was the youngest appointed magistrate in the town! Secondly, this man Leonards stirred trouble to the Hales. Fred seems to have just escaped by nothing short of a miracle, again thanks to Margaret. While Margaret seems to have taken care of everything to keep her family and Thornton safe from any harm or misgivings, she herself has fallen for it. If he was right, Margaret wouldn't have yet revealed about Fred to Thornton. And didn't Hale tell that his pupil had come for his lessons as usual while Fred was there at Crampton? So Margaret would have managed the situation somehow to send away Thornton. And he would have become aware of Margaret lying to the inspector. That would have puzzled and hurt him enormously. Even then, he must have helped her due to his feelings for her.

Mr. Bell finally understood that Fred's situation might be the cause of the lovers being apart.

Mr. Hale was sitting by the fire, his Plato in hand. But he wasn't reading, or maybe his eyes were on the page but his mind elsewhere. Margaret noticed her father with sadness.

"Papa, shall I fetch tea? Would you like to have something?"

"No my dear. I was just… well… thinking…"

"About what, papa?"

"You, of course."

Margaret was scared suddenly. Did her father become aware of the so-called impropriety? Was her father in shock and disbelief, just as Mr. Thornton?

"Me? What about me, papa?"

"About your future, dear. I won't be here for long. And I am thankful to at least know that Fred has reached Spain as will be soon marrying the love of his life. But you! I just do not know what will happen…"

"Papa, please don't speak so! You will live long and teach many more pupils! They need people like you here. As for my brother, I am pleased he has someone to love him there just as we do. We both shall stay for each other just as we do now."

"My dear, I know you will be there for me no matter what, just as you have always been there for your mother and brother. But what about you, Margaret? You will have to live a life for your own, if you understand what I mean…"

"I understand, father. I really do. But I don't think it's the time yet to talk about it."

Just then, Dixon and Mr. Bell entered the home. Both father and daughter felt glad by the intrusion.

"There, Bell! Come, take a seat."

"How are you doing today, Hale? And you, Margaret?"

"We were just talking to each other. And how was your day?"

"Quite tedious, in fact. Nose deep within agreements, invoices, bills, and receipts. Not to forget, Thornton's visit."

Margaret's face lit up.

"He will be coming tomorrow for his lesson. But why did he come to meet you?"

"Why, business of course. Marlborough Mills isn't doing well, Hale. Thornton is quite depressed, but I believe he will come out of the troubles well."

Margaret was distressed to hear Mr. Bells' words. She had surmised as much from her visits to Princeton. But while hearing it from her godfather felt like there was more to the issue. She couldn't withstand the thought of Jo– Mr. Thornton's business falling out just like that. For all the pride the Thorntons held, they were sure worthy of it, especially him. She admired his sense of business and authority, something which she once loathed in him. And also the poor workers! Their lives will come to a standstill if anything happens to Marlborough Mills…

"My dear, you are lost deep in thought", Mr. Bell cleared the air.

"Yes, to hear that Mr. Thornton's mill is in trouble seems sorrowful. I hope the troubles are solved soon. They will".

"I haven't seen such a fine man as him. And to know he is facing such problems is in fact distressing. I think I should let him attend to the concerns of his mill and not teach him at the moment."

"No Hale, the time he spends here is the only thing that keeps that man sane! Let him come if he wishes to. If he cannot make it, he will himself let you know that he cannot."

"That sounds sensible too", Mr. Hale replied.

Dixon arrived with tea for the company. Margaret, then left to assist here with dinner. The friends were company for each other until dinner was ready.

"What is troubling you, Hale? I noticed both you and Margaret just when I and Dixon arrived. You looked out of sorts."

"Yes, since a few days to be honest. I am worried about Margaret."

"I understand what you mean."

"I.. I don't know what will happen to her after I am gone, Bell. Maria's illness never allowed her to be closer to Margaret. I am happy for Fred to be safe in Spain, but Margaret! What will her future be? I know that her aunt and cousin dote on her and will have her removed to London immediately, if circumstances demand. But I know that Margaret never liked London society much, not to mention her aunt's constant idea of propriety and decorum in the house."

"Mrs. Shaw and her daughter are the complete opposite of Margaret. I came to know that minutes after I had visited them last summer, when I was invited by her."

"Yes, but Margaret loves her cousin Edith. They hardly get along, but she's grateful for the education she received under her aunt's care. But if Margaret will be under her aunt's custody after me, she and her daughter might expect Margaret to get married to Mr. Henry Lennox."

"Henry Lennox? Isn't he a barrister? Criminal law?"

"Yes, the exact man. He is Edith's husband's brother. Mr. Henry Lennox took a liking towards Margaret while she was in London. He had even come to Helstone right before our transfer to Milton. He proposed to Margaret, but she turned down his offer. She sees him as just a friend."

"Haha, Margaret has a talent for turning down men."

Mr. Hale laughed as well.

"Ah, that she does. Well, I never preferred the barrister myself. He just seems to be the kind who wants a wife for the sake of matrimony. And Margaret will not be considered in such a light. I was quite happy to know she had rejected his proposal. But that was not the case with Thornton, you know. John is different. I know he thinks highly of Margaret, but she seems to be firm in misunderstanding him. I just don't know what will happen to her after me."

"There, now! Don't say such words. You will live long, teach long. Not unlike me. Stop worrying about Margaret. She is a strong lady of her own mind. She will not be put down by any."

"That's true. But I want her to have a choice. She can either live in London, now that Milton doesn't seem to be her future home. Or she can go to Cadiz, Spain and live with Fred."

Mr. Bell contemplated his words. Margaret might well enough, if given the chance to decide, choose Spain. She might not wish to infringe upon her aunt, and constantly manage her plans of putting her together with that barrister fellow.

"I see. But don't worry about her, Hale. Because I will take care of her."

"I don't understand, Bell."

"For some time, I was pondering over the same. What would happen after I am gone? You were thinking about Margaret but I was thinking about all the wealth I have earned. I don't have a family as such, none that deserve what I made. Moreover, they will squander with it all for their useless pursuits. So, I have decided to make my goddaughter as my heir. But, don't let this be known to her now. When the time comes, I will tell her myself, Hale."

Mr. Hale was stunned to hear this.

"No, Bell. I do understand that my constant ramblings might have put you to decide such a thing. But really, you don't have to…"

"Shhhh, man! It's not your ramblings but my love for my goddaughter. I never felt like having a family, not after I lost the love of my life. But whenever I see Margaret and think about Fred, a part of me wishes to have had one. Now that it's too late, let me at least offer all that I earned to my goddaughter. Surely, we won't be taking our worldly possessions down the grave, will we? So let our children live better. And Margaret is not one to spend pounds on frills, laces, and balls. She will be independent, as she must be."

Mr. Hale's eyes gleamed with tears. He was grateful to have such a true friend as Bell. He felt like telling him the same.

"Bell, I…"

"You don't have to say anything, Hale. Just don't. I understand you as I have always done."

Both friends sat in silence holding hands.

It was dark. It was a new moon night. That made the night feel young yet frightening.

Thoughts buried deep in the heart simmered to the surface.

In the mill house, the master was not asleep. He spent some time talking with his mother, when at last, he convinced her to retire. She went hesitatingly.

Now that he was alone with nothing but just a glass of brandy as company, Mr. Thornton contemplated his life.

His words to Margaret suddenly came to his mind. "I am looking into the future." But what was it anyway? A future with no Margaret, no mill is as good as nothing.

Long back, when he thought about how far he had come, he felt proud. His entire life depended on his mill. He hardly thought about his life as a student in Oxford. Those days seldom contributed in the making of what he is now. It was his troubles which shaped him. If his father hadn't chosen to end his life, he would have been something else totally. A professor, perhaps. Or maybe, a historian. Or whatever. It doesn't matter.

He had a loving relationship with his father. He remembered how he used to take young John to his library, show him books, maps, and tell him stories of places. He always told him to dream bigger and stick to it. His mother was always the aloof one, who wished everything to be in order. She was not the one to dote on her children. But his father was the kindest man he had ever seen.

He didn't expect all will come to an end with his father's death. Two days before he died, he had come to meet his son at Oxford. That was their last conversation. And it was unlike the ones they had before.

His father spoke in general, but towards a point, he suddenly became firm as a rock. Before leaving, he asked his son to always take care of his mother and sister. Told him that life might be hard, but you should be harder enough to conquer it. It will be all worth it in the end one day, he had said. And then. He left.

Two days later, he saw his dead father. That was when he understood that he had made up his mind to leave everything behind and had come to meet his son for the last time.

Mr. Thornton had never told about his last conversation with his father to his mother. He never thought to reveal it to her, because they hardly spoke of anything out of business at all. Mostly, he was angry at the man for leaving abruptly.

But now, he understood his father. How sorrowful it must have been to choose death. And how it put an end to his suffering, although his family was left behind to survive on nought.

Was he considering the same path as his father? Mr. Thornton asked himself. But he didn't know. No, it was not an option at all. He was still too proud and strong to do that. He was exhausted to think about anything at all. Because nothing was left to give him solace. He would be following himself if he still believed that the mill would recover somehow. He would be fooling himself if he hoped for Margaret even more. His only solace was in the fact that his sister was safe and well taken care of. Watson might not be of her age, but he doted on Fanny.

Nothing helped, but maybe his dreams of Margaret may help. Tomorrow he will be able to meet her again. That was the only best part of his life. Just as the mill was coming slowly to a dead end, something told him that his time with Margaret would be soon ending as well. She might not stay in Milton for long. No matter how much he wished she would. He realized that he can somehow withstand the loss of his mill, his position. But Margaret? He didn't know how he could live without her.

Defeated, he finished drinking and decided to retire.